About Me:I am a self-taught taught artist that discovered my passion of photography, back in 1995, while writing my first book, Haunting Hands. A book initially intended to be a collection of poems i had written about surviving a difficult childhood. I decided it would feel more personal if i created the cover for the book myself. Shortly thereafter, i purchased a camera and turned my living room into a makeshift studio. I did a series of self-portraits and then another and another. The process of creating and putting myself in front of the camera felt cathartic, liberating and healing. The photographic medium opened up a new world to me and ignited a kind of passion within that i didn’t even know i was capable of experiencing. My book transformed into a, survivor-orientated, photographic essay and that started me down the path to becoming a photographic artist.

ANSWER TO THE MOST FAQ EVER: Are your self-portraits, self-portraits? YES! I don't consider a self-portrait to be TRULY a self-portrait unless i take the picture of myself, by myself. It's not easy to chase oneself around with the camera, LOL. But that's what i do. I use a digital camera, utilizing the self-timer mode. Sometimes i get the shot i want on the first shot or first few frames and other times it takes me 100s of pictures to get the shot i want.

WHY do you create? . . . because imagery, poetry and words can offer us a feeling, an experience and the magical gift of transport. I want my imagery to give people a way to express themselves, to offer them a moment of magic and wonder, I want to ignite the imagination, emotions and give people a sense of connection. Learn more about my creative process via the Q & A page of my website: http://www.redbubble.com/people/jaedadewalt/journal/694520-q-and-a-with-jaeda.

BRIEF BIO: I have produced cover art for books, playbills, collective fine art books and have had my work exhibited in New York, including the Hofstra Museum. In 2009 i published, Shades of the Soul an artography book featuring my art and poetry. You can preview my book, here: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/625673